Ask DEMCAD: Young Prepper goes to College

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

A younger viewer asked me what he should do when he goes off to college.

"I'm heading college next year, and not sure how I will continue to prep while in college. I prep low scale now, once I'm out of college and get a real job im going to start prepping hardcore like you do. Should I bring my small BOB/Inch bag with me to college. maybe you could make a video about this."

Whatever you do, I would focus on water. Dehydration kills fast in a crisis. I would make sure I had plenty of water and more importantly, make sure I had a way of purifying water.

Make sure the backpack (bug out bag) is light weight. And don't buy something that sticks out. Go to garage and estate sales to find flashlights and ponchos or tools. But don't go overboard, keep the cost and weight as low as you can. You can build a first aid kit with items from dollar tree. You can buy alcohol swaps, burn creme ointment, hot packs, pads, gauzes and band aids for a dollar each. You may want to buy higher end gauze, but the rest of the stuff can be acquired for a buck. Good luck.

Hurricane Sandy & Riots After the Election?

 By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

Hurricane Sandy a Lesson For NON-Preppers

People diving through dumpsters looking for food, isolated neighborhoods in Queens being attacked by looters dressed as utility workers, long lines of cars outside of gas stations, officials complaining about the federal response in Staten Island and chaos sweeping across the New York/ New Jersey area. This isn't the end of the world, but the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Millions of people are trying to put their lives back together, after a rare storm created havoc in the largest city in America.

Hurricane Sandy death toll climbs above 110, N.Y. hardest hit
 
After the power went out, police protection was so bare that some people in Queens started arming themselves with bats and guns and bow and arrows. There was endless tv reports on desperate city dwellers calling out for help. Officials blaming FEMA and the Red Cross. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is why I prep. I don't prep for the end of the World, I prep for life. Unexpected things happen in life that can change your world. I prepare for emergencies because I realize that emergencies happen. There is no excuse for grown men and women to not prepare for simple emergencies.And as you watch these desperate people on TV, you need to ask yourself, am I going to be one of these people?
 
Queens residents arm themselves in the post-storm blackout from looters
Drivers facing long lines, empty pumps in New York

The Election and Riots

I was video recording a video on Hurricane Sandy, when I was interrupted by a guy who saw one of my videos on youtube. He mentioned the election and we started thinking about Obama. He was a supporter and I rejected both Obama and Romney. The video below is the raw, unedited footage of what happened. Enjoy! Should Blacks Support Obama in 2012?


In short, I don't see the need to support either Obama or Romney. They're both corporatist warmongers who are nothing more than show pieces designed to divide the people.  Liberal comedian Bill Maher made one of the most irresponsible comments of this election cycle on his HBO show Real Time. 

"If you're thinking about voting for Mitt Romney, I would like to make this one plea: black people know who you are and they will come after you"

Of course, he was kidding, but it wasn't funny. Some Obama supporters are making threats about rioting if Obama should lose. I should point out that most black people are not assholes who would engage in this behavior. With that said, whatever these angry fools do, they should stay out of white rural areas, because unlike the white Chicagoans attacked by black teenager mobs, these white people have guns. A massive crowd of blacks entering their area to destroy property would end in disaster. Frankly, I think enough of Obama's angry black supporters know this. So I doubt we're going to see riots after election night. Enough said.

Water is the Most Important Aspect of Prepping

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

The moist air is thick and heavy. The city's asphalt streets sizzle. Another scorching hot day in Flint, Michigan. But this heat wave is just the beginning of 2012's second temperature surge. The first heat wave knocked out power systems across the Eastern U.S. and left thousands of temperature records along the waist-side. This summer has been one for the record books. But it has also awaken my core survival instincts. For the first time in my journey as a prepper, I realized that my priorities were not correctly aligned. For too long, I have endulged my fascination with firearms to the point that I have failed to see what represents the greatest threat in a crisis situation: dehydration.

In all likelihood, I will die of dehydration before I am forced into a gun fire. And since I already have six guns, how can I justify buying another one when my water preparation is so weak.

Although, I have 6 five gallon containers filled with tap water, four cases of bottled water, a Katadyn Water filter and several packs of purifying tablets, an honest assessment of my supplies would force me to conclude that this would not be enough for a family of three to survive on for very long. This summer of unbearable  heat has forced me to re-examine how prepared I really am for a situation were I would have to produce my own clean water.

Let's keep in mind that many modern water systems rely on electric pumps to force water to millions of homes. If the electrical system is compromised, then millions of Americans may find themselves in a situation were they will have to boil, purify or filter their own water.

So I've decided to take action. A friend on youtube suggested I build a sand bio filter to remove germs from the water in the nearby creek. The concept is brillantly simple. You use fine sand in a 55 gallon barrel to filter viruses and harmfully substances from the water. But the top level of water serves as a natural bio system by using good bacteria to destroy bad bacteria.

It's a good idea, but it's not for me. Filling a 55 gallon barrel would be problematic for an urbanite such as myself, because it would be very difficult to move. So I've decided to invest in a Berkey Water system. It's light weight and it uses a carbon filter to remove virtually any harmful biological organism. I've also decided get some water containers that are not clear. The idea is to protect the water from the effects of sunlight. I'm also going to expand into trapping rainwater.

There's nothing wrong with owning a lot of guns, but if you don't have any water, your body will break down very fast. Water makes almost everything easier. You need water. I need water and more of it. In an emergency situation, I will need water to cook food, washing my body, stay hydrated, prevent infection and possibly keep someone's body temperature down. So I'll still buy another pistol this year, but not before I make sure I can filter hundreds of gallons of water.

What Women Should Do During SHTF

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

How would an average single woman fare in the event of a society breakdown? Let's say that there was a situation that caused a major panic, bank runs, riots, chaos in grocery stores, a massive influx in home invasions and much worse. How would a single woman protect herself in such a scenario? I've always wondered how a female could ever be anti-gun, especially when most women are physically smaller and weaker than 50% of the population. Given the fact that most violent predators are men, if attacked, the average woman would most certainly be facing an opponent with superior strength and weight.

So listening to a woman rant against guns has never made any sense to me. But I want to address the women who are sensible enough to protect them. Rather you are a man or a woman, you can be attacked at almost anything. Being a 300 pound, 6'2" man doesn't make me immune to attack. Anyone can be attacked, so we must try to be prepared at all times, so when a crisis happens, we'll be better suited to adapt to the changing circumstances. Here are the principles I try to practice.  

1. Situational Awareness
This means being aware of our surroundings at all times. Something that I have failed to do at times. Too often, strangers on bikes have been able to surprise me while I was walking down the street, enjoying tunes on my mp3 player. But living in a dangerous city like Flint, Michigan means that I could only be seconds away from an attack at all times. I have to keep reminding myself to not let the music distract me. In a society breakdown, predators will take advantage of the chaos by targeting vulnerable women (an men). I would recommend that if there are riots in your town, stay off the streets. Rushing to Walmart to buy more food may not be worth the risk of leaving your home unattended. This is why we prep, so we don't have to be in the panicky mob fighting for food.  

2. Following My Instincts
Have you ever had a bad feeling about something or a strange place? Well, that's your animal instinct warning. it's the same instinct that allows a deer to sense danger. I used to watch nature shows with my mother when I was a kid and I remember the lions targeting the dumbass prey that was separated from his pack. There's a lesson to learn. Under normal conditions, I walk by myself a lot. During a society breakdown, I would avoid such practice. It would be unwise for a woman (or a man) to travel alone. Remember, the overwhelming majority of women don't carry a gun, so targeting a lone woman during a crisis would be ideal for a predator.  

3. Act Quickly! Don't Depend On Some Guy!
How fast you react could be the difference between living and dying. If I were a woman, I would assume that no man would be coming for my rescue. it sounds silly, but a lot of women (and men) think that some government agency or a man will come through in a crisis. Ladies, you are responsible for your own lives. Too many women have been programmed to expect men (and government) to do certain things for them. I asked my sister on several occasions if she wanted to go to the gun range and learn how to shot. I remind her respond at Hurley Medical Center. "No, but I'm a girl. That's for you guys." Ladies, this type of foolishness could cost you dearly.  

4. Lock and Load
I highly recommend you consider taking a CCW (concealed carry weapon) permit class and carrying a pistol. If not a pistol, pepper spray, a knife or a stun gun. But you better be ready to use them. And keep in mind that all of these tools require training. I should also add that pepper spray may not stop the assailant as fast as you want. A 12 Gauge pump action shotgun will go a long way in discouraging a rapist. And please, please, don't put labels/signs on your car and home that single you out.

5. Don't Get Singled Out

Do you really need big brushes in front and around you home? it could give a burglar excellent cover when attempting to break into your home? And how much privacy do you really want? A privacy fence keeps noisy neighbors from watching you, but it also provides cover for the burglars.

In the video below, two men try to enter a woman's house by kicking down the door. Fortunately, it was a well made door and she also had a gun for protection. But I suspend that her privacy fence was one of the things that attracted the criminals in the first place.





6. A Dog is A Woman's Best Friend 
Nothing will discourage a burglar as fast as a German Shepard or a Rottweiler. You don't need a pit bull to scare a rapist away from your home. A Golden Retriever will bite the hell out of a creeper. Dogs have been used by humans for warning and protection from predators for years. A dog can save during normal conditions and also during the worst. Bottom line, a woman should be prepared for dealing with threats in a scenario where emergency 911 operators aren't able to send the police. I am not a security expert, but my common sense dictates that you should watch the nature/wildlife documentaries and avoid doing what the lamb does. You know, the one that ends up as the lion's dinner.